Polypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity and nucleic acids encoding same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides. The present invention further relates to methods for preventing microbial biofilm development.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/434,690, filed on Nov. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,529, which isa continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/263,041 filed onMar. 5, 1999, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/189,497 filed on Nov. 10, 1998, now abandoned,which applications are fully incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides havinglactonohydrolase activity and isolated nucleic acid sequences encodingthe polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs,vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well asmethods for producing and using the polypeptides.

2. Description of the Related Art

Lactonohydrolases reversibly catalyze the hydrolysis of lactonecompounds to hydroxy acids, i.e., they mediate the interconversionbetween the lactone and acid forms of hydroxy carboxylic acids.

Shimizu et al. (1992, European Journal of Biochemistry 209: 383-390)have disclosed a lactonohydrolase obtained from Fusarium oxysporum. Thisenzyme preparation stereospecifically hydrolyzes aldonate lactones suchas D-galactono-γ-lactone and D-glucono-δ-lactone. In addition, theFusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase catalyzes the asymmetric hydrolysisof D-pantoyl lactone, which can be used as a chiral building block forthe synthesis of D-pantothenate (Shimazu and Kataoka, 1996, Annals ofthe New York Academy of Sciences 799:650-658; Kataoka et al., 1995,Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 44: 333-338; Kataoka et al., 1996, EnzymeMicrob. Technol. 19: 307-310). Furthermore, lactonohydrolaseirreversibly hydrolyzes a number of aromatic lactones, such asdihydrocoumarin and homogentisic-acid lactone.

The cloning and expression of a Fusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase genehas been disclosed (WO 97/10341).

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvedpolypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity and nucleic acid encodingthe polypeptides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides havinglactonohydrolase activity selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has at least 95%identity with amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95%homology with nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1;

(c) a variant of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO. 2 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one ormore amino acids;

(d) an allelic variant of (a) or (b); and

(e) a fragment of (a), (b), or (d) that has lactonohydrolase activity;

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequencesencoding the polypeptides and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, andhost cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods forproducing and using the polypeptides.

The present invention further relates to methods for preventingmicrobial biofilm development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the cDNA sequence and the deduced amino acidsequence of a Fusarium venenatum lactonohydrolase (SEQ ID NOS. 1 and 2,respectively).

FIG. 2 shows a restriction map of pDM181.

FIG. 3 shows a restriction map of pSheB1.

FIG. 4 shows a restriction map of pTriggs1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Polypeptides HavingLactonohydrolase Activity

The term “lactonohydrolase activity” is defined herein as a hydrolaseactivity which catalyzes the hydrolysis of aldonate and aromaticlactones to the corresponding carboxylic acids. For purposes of thepresent invention, lactonohydrolase activity is determined according tothe procedure described by Fishbein and Bessman, 1966, Journal ofBiological Chemistry 241: 4835-4841, where the hydrolysis ofD-galactono-γ-lactone is measured.

In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides having an amino acid sequence which has a degree ofidentity to amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2 (i.e., the maturepolypeptide) of at least about 95%, and preferably at least about 97%,which have lactonohydrolase activity (hereinafter “homologouspolypeptides”). In a preferred embodiment, the homologous polypeptideshave an amino acid sequence which differs by five amino acids,preferably by four amino acids, more preferably by three amino acids,even more preferably by two amino acids, and most preferably by oneamino acid from amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2. For purposes ofthe present invention, the degree of identity between two amino acidsequences is determined by the Clustal method (Higgins, 1989, CABIOS 5:151-153) using the LASERGENE™ MEGALIGN™ software (DNASTAR, Inc.,Madison, Wis.) with an identity table and the following multiplealignment parameters: Gap penalty of 10 and gap length penalty of 10.Pairwise alignment parameters were Ktuple=1, gap penalty=3, windows=5,and diagonals=5.

Preferably, the polypeptides of the present invention comprise the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 or an allelic variant thereof; or afragment thereof that has lactonohydrolase activity. In a more preferredembodiment, the polypeptide of the present invention comprises the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. In another preferred embodiment, thepolypeptide of the present invention comprises amino acids 18 to 400 ofSEQ ID NO. 2, or an allelic variant thereof; or a fragment thereof thathas lactonohydrolase activity. In another preferred embodiment, thepolypeptide of the present invention comprises amino acids 18 to 400 ofSEQ ID NO. 2. In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptide of thepresent invention consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 oran allelic variant thereof; or a fragment thereof that haslactonohydrolase activity. In another preferred embodiment, thepolypeptide of the present invention consists of the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO. 2. In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptideconsists of amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2 or an allelic variantthereof; or a fragment thereof that has lactonohydrolase activity. Inanother preferred embodiment, the polypeptide consists of amino acids 18to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2.

A fragment of SEQ ID NO. 2 is a polypeptide having one or more aminoacids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of this amino acidsequence. Preferably, a fragment contains at least 310 amino acidresidues, more preferably at least 340 amino acid residues, and mostpreferably at least 370 amino acid residues.

An allelic variant denotes any of two or more alternative forms of agene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arisesnaturally through mutation, and may result in polymorphism withinpopulations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encodedpolypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acidsequences. An allelic variant of a polypeptide is a polypeptide encodedby an allelic variant of a gene.

In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity which are encoded bynucleic acid sequences which hybridize under very low stringencyconditions, preferably low stringency conditions, more preferably mediumstringency conditions, more preferably medium-high stringencyconditions, even more preferably high stringency conditions, and mostpreferably very high stringency conditions with a nucleic acid probewhich hybridizes under the same conditions with (i) nucleotides 90 to1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1, (ii) the genomic sequence comprising nucleotides90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1, (iii) a subsequence of (i) or (ii), or (iv)a complementary strand of (i), (ii), or (iii) (J. Sambrook, E. F.Fritsch, and T. Maniatus, 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual,2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). The subsequence of SEQ ID NO. 1may be at least 100 nucleotides or preferably at least 200 nucleotides.Moreover, the subsequence may encode a polypeptide fragment which haslactonohydrolase activity. The polypeptides may also be allelic variantsor fragments of the polypeptides that have lactonohydrolase activity.

The nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or a subsequence thereof, aswell as the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 or a fragment thereof,may be used to design a nucleic acid probe to identify and clone DNAencoding polypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity from strains ofdifferent genera or species according to methods well known in the art.In particular, such probes can be used for hybridization with thegenomic or cDNA of the genus or species of interest, following standardSouthern blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolate thecorresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorter thanthe entire sequence, but should be at least 15, preferably at least 25,and more preferably at least 35 nucleotides in length. Longer probes canalso be used. Both DNA and RNA probes can be used. The probes aretypically labeled for detecting the corresponding gene (for example,with ³²P, ³H, ³⁵S, biotin, or avidin). Such probes are encompassed bythe present invention.

Thus, a genomic DNA or cDNA library prepared from such other organismsmay be screened for DNA which hybridizes with the probes described aboveand which encodes a polypeptide having lactonohydrolase activity.Genomic or other DNA from such other organisms may be separated byagarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or other separationtechniques. DNA from the libraries or the separated DNA may betransferred to and immobilized on nitrocellulose or other suitablecarrier material. In order to identify a clone or DNA which ishomologous with SEQ ID NO. 1 or a subsequence thereof, the carriermaterial is used in a Southern blot. For purposes of the presentinvention, hybridization indicates that the nucleic acid sequencehybridizes to a labeled nucleic acid probe corresponding to the nucleicacid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, its complementary strand, or asubsequence thereof, under very low to very high stringency conditions.Molecules to which the nucleic acid probe hybridizes under theseconditions are detected using X-ray film.

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid probe is a nucleic acidsequence which encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 2, or a subsequencethereof. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid probe is SEQID NO. 1. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid probe is themature polypeptide coding region of SEQ ID NO. 1. In another preferredembodiment, the nucleic acid probe is the nucleic acid sequencecontained in plasmid pFA0576 which is contained in Escherichia coli NRRLB-30074, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide havingacid phosphatase activity. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleicacid probe is the mature polypeptide coding region contained in plasmidpFA0576 which is contained in Escherichia coli NRRL B-30074.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, very low to veryhigh stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization andhybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 μg/ml sheared anddenatured salmon sperm DNA, and either 25% formamide for very low andlow stringencies, 35% formamide for medium and medium-high stringencies,or 50% formamide for high and very high stringencies, following standardSouthern blotting procedures.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, the carriermaterial is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC,0.2% SDS preferably at least at 45° C. (very low stringency), morepreferably at least at 50° C. (low stringency), more preferably at leastat 55° C. (medium stringency), more preferably at least at 60° C.(medium-high stringency), even more preferably at least at 65° C. (highstringency), and most preferably at least at 70° C. (very highstringency).

For short probes which are about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotidesin length, stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization,hybridization, and washing post-hybridization at 5° C. to 10° C. belowthe calculated T_(m) using the calculation according to Bolton andMcCarthy (1962, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA48:1390) in 0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 6 mM EDTA, 0.5% NP-40,1×Denhardt's solution, 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mM sodium monobasicphosphate, 0.1 mM ATP, and 0.2 mg of yeast RNA per ml following standardSouthern blotting procedures.

For short probes which are about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotidesin length, the carrier material is washed once in 6×SCC plus 0.1% SDSfor 15 minutes and twice each for 15 minutes using 6×SSC at 5° C. to 10°C. below the calculated T_(m).

In a third embodiment, the present invention relates to variants of thepolypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 comprising asubstitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids.

The amino acid sequences of the variant polypeptides may differ from theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 or the mature polypeptide thereof byan insertion or deletion of one or more amino acid residues and/or thesubstitution of one or more amino acid residues by different amino acidresidues. Preferably, amino acid changes are of a minor nature, that isconservative amino acid substitutions that do not significantly affectthe folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typicallyof one to about 30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminalextensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linkerpeptide of up to about 20-25 residues; or a small extension thatfacilitates purification by changing net charge or another function,such as a poly-histidine tract, an antigenic epitope or a bindingdomain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the group of basicamino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids(glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine andasparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine),aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and smallamino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Aminoacid substitutions which do not generally alter the specific activityare known in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath andR. L. Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. The mostcommonly occurring exchanges are Ala/Ser, Val/lle, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser,Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg,Asp/Asn, Leu/lle, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly as well as these inreverse.

In a fourth embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides having immunochemical identity or partial immunochemicalidentity to the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.2 or the mature polypeptide thereof. The immunochemical properties aredetermined by immunological cross-reaction identity tests by thewell-known Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion procedure. Specifically,an antiserum containing polyclonal antibodies which are immunoreactiveor bind to epitopes of the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO. 2 or the mature polypeptide thereof are prepared byimmunizing rabbits (or other rodents) according to the proceduredescribed by Harboe and Ingild, In N. H. Axelsen, J. Krøll, and B.Weeks, editors, A Manual of Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis,Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1973, Chapter 23, or Johnstone andThorpe, Immunochemistry in Practice, Blackwell Scientific Publications,1982 (more specifically pages 27-31). A polypeptide havingimmunochemical identity is a polypeptide which reacts with the antiserumin an identical fashion such as total fusion of precipitates, identicalprecipitate morphology, and/or identical electrophoretic mobility usinga specific immunochemical technique. A further explanation ofimmunochemical identity is described by Axelsen, Bock, and Krøll, In N.H. Axelsen, J. Krøll, and B. Weeks, editors, A Manual of QuantitativeImmunoelectrophoresis, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1973, Chapter10. A polypeptide having partial immunochemical identity is apolypeptide which reacts with the antiserum in a partially identicalfashion such as partial fusion of precipitates, partially identicalprecipitate morphology, and/or partially identical electrophoreticmobility using a specific immunochemical technique. A furtherexplanation of partial immunochemical identity is described by Bock andAxelsen, In N. H. Axelsen, J. Krøll, and B. Weeks, editors, A Manual ofQuantitative Immunoelectrophoresis, Blackwell Scientific Publications,1973, Chapter 11.

The antibody may also be a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodiesmay be prepared and used, e.g., according to the methods of E. Harlowand D. Lane, editors, 1988, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold SpringHarbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

The polypeptides of the present invention have at least 20%, preferablyat least 40%, more preferably at least 60%, even more preferably atleast 80%, even more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably atleast 100% of the lactonohydrolase activity of the mature polypeptide ofSEQ ID NO. 2.

A polypeptide of the present invention may be obtained frommicroorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the present invention, theterm “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given sourceshall mean that the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence isproduced by the source or by a cell in which the nucleic acid sequencefrom the source has been inserted. In a preferred embodiment, thepolypeptide is secreted extracellularly.

A polypeptide of the present invention may be a bacterial polypeptide.For example, the polypeptide may be a gram positive bacterialpolypeptide such as a Bacillus polypeptide, e.g., a Bacillusalkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacilluscirculans, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus,Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillusstearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or Bacillus thuringiensispolypeptide; or a Streptomyces polypeptide, e.g., a Streptomyceslividans or Streptomyces murinus polypeptide; or a gram negativebacterial polypeptide, e.g., an E. coli or a Pseudomonas sp.polypeptide.

A polypeptide of the present invention may be a fungal polypeptide, andmore preferably a yeast polypeptide such as a Candida, Kluyveromyces,Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia polypeptide; ormore preferably a filamentous fungal polypeptide such as an Acremonium,Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cryptococcus, Filibasidium, Fusarium,Humicola, Magnaporthe, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix,Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Piromyces, Schizophyllum,Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, or Trichodermapolypeptide.

In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is a Saccharomycescarlsbergensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus,Saccharomyces douglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensisor Saccharomyces oviformis polypeptide.

In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is an Aspergillusaculeatus, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillusjaponicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae,Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa, Mucor miehei, Myceliophthorathermophila, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium purpurogenum, Trichodermaharzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum,Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride polypeptide.

In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is a Fusariumbactridioides, Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusariumculmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusariumheterosporum, Fusarium negundi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusariumreticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium sambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum,Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium sulphureum, Fusarium torulosum,Fusarium trichothecioides, or Fusarium venenatum polypeptide.

In a more preferred embodiment, the Fusarium venenatum cell is Fusariumvenenatum A3/5, which was originally deposited as Fusarium graminearumATCC 20334 and recently reclassified as Fusarium venenatum by Yoder andChristianson, 1998, Fungal Genetics and Biology 23: 62-80 and O'Donnellet al., 1998, Fungal Genetics and Biology 23: 57-67; as well astaxonomic equivalents of Fusarium venenatum regardless of the speciesname by which they are currently known. In another preferred embodiment,the Fusarium venenatum cell is a morphological mutant of Fusariumvenenatum A3/5 or Fusarium venenatum ATCC 20334, as disclosed in WO97/26330.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the inventionencompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomicequivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by whichthey are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize theidentity of appropriate equivalents. For example, taxonomic equivalentsof Fusarium are defined by D. L. Hawksworth, P. M. Kirk, B. C. Sutton,and D. N. Pegler (editors), 1995, In Ainsworth & Bisby's Dictionary ofthe Fungi, Eighth Edition, CAB International, University Press,Cambridge, England, pp. 173-174.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in anumber of culture collections, such as the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen undZellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), andAgricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, NorthernRegional Research Center (NRRL).

Furthermore, such polypeptides may be identified and obtained from othersources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil,composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques forisolating microorganisms from natural habitats are well known in theart. The nucleic acid sequence may then be derived by similarlyscreening a genomic or cDNA library of another microorganism. Once anucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide has been detected with theprobe(s), the sequence may be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniqueswhich are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g.,Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

As defined herein, an “isolated” polypeptide is a polypeptide which isessentially free of other non-lactonohydrolase polypeptides, e.g., atleast about 20% pure, preferably at least about 40% pure, morepreferably about 60% pure, even more preferably about 80% pure, mostpreferably about 90% pure, and even most preferably about 95% pure, asdetermined by SDS-PAGE.

Polypeptides encoded by nucleic acid sequences of the present inventionalso include fused polypeptides or cleavable fusion polypeptides inwhich another polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminusof the polypeptide or fragment thereof. A fused polypeptide is producedby fusing a nucleic acid sequence (or a portion thereof) encodinganother polypeptide to a nucleic acid sequence (or a portion thereof) ofthe present invention. Techniques for producing fusion polypeptides areknown in the art, and include ligating the coding sequences encoding thepolypeptides so that they are in frame and that expression of the fusedpolypeptide is under control of the same promoter(s) and terminator.

Nucleic Acid Sequences

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequenceswhich encode a polypeptide of the present invention. In a preferredembodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1. Inanother more preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is thesequence contained in plasmid pFA0576 that is contained in Escherichiacoli NRRL B-30074. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acidsequence is the mature polypeptide coding region of SEQ ID NO. 1. Inanother more preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is themature polypeptide coding region contained in plasmid pFA0576 that iscontained in Escherichia coli NRRL B-30074. The present invention also.encompasses nucleic acid sequences which encode a polypeptide having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 or the mature polypeptide thereof,which differ from SEQ ID NO. 1 by virtue of the degeneracy of thegenetic code. The present invention also relates to subsequences of SEQID NO. 1 which encode fragments of SEQ ID NO. 2 that havelactonohydrolase activity.

A subsequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 is a nucleic acid sequence encompassed bySEQ ID NO. 1 except that one or more nucleotides from the 5′ and/or 3′end have been deleted. Preferably, a subsequence contains at least 930nucleotides, more preferably at least 1020 nucleotides, and mostpreferably at least 1110 nucleotides.

The present invention also relates to mutant nucleic acid sequencescomprising at least one mutation in the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, in which the mutant nucleic acid sequenceencodes a polypeptide which consists of amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ IDNO. 2.

The techniques used to isolate or clone a nucleic acid sequence encodinga polypeptide are known in the art and include isolation from genomicDNA, preparation from cDNA, or a combination thereof. The cloning of thenucleic acid sequences of the present invention from such genomic DNAcan be effected, e.g., by using the well known polymerase chain reaction(PCR) or antibody screening of expression libraries to detect cloned DNAfragments with shared structural features. See, e.g., Innis et al.,1990, PCR: A Guide to Methods and Application, Academic Press, New York.Other nucleic acid amplification procedures such as ligase chainreaction (LCR), ligated activated transcription (LAT) and nucleic acidsequence-based amplification (NASBA) may be used. The nucleic acidsequence may be cloned from a strain of Fusarium, or another or relatedorganism and thus, for example, may be an allelic or species variant ofthe polypeptide encoding region of the nucleic acid sequence.

The term “isolated nucleic acid sequence” as used herein refers to anucleic acid sequence which is essentially free of other nucleic acidsequences, e.g., at least about 20% pure, preferably at least about 40%pure, more preferably at least about 60% pure, even more preferably atleast about 80% pure, and most preferably at least about 90% pure asdetermined by agarose electrophoresis. For example, an isolated nucleicacid sequence can be obtained by standard cloning procedures used ingenetic engineering to relocate the nucleic acid sequence from itsnatural location to a different site where it will be reproduced. Thecloning procedures may involve excision and isolation of a desirednucleic acid fragment comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding thepolypeptide, insertion of the fragment into a vector molecule, andincorporation of the recombinant vector into a host cell where multiplecopies or clones of the nucleic acid sequence will be replicated. Thenucleic acid sequence may be of genomic, cDNA, RNA, semisynthetic,synthetic origin, or any combinations thereof.

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences which havea degree of homology to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO. 1 (i.e., nucleotides 90 to 1238) of at least about 95%, andpreferably about 97% homology, which encode an active polypeptide. Forpurposes of the present invention, the degree of homology between twonucleic acid sequences is determined by the Wilbur-Lipman method (Wilburand Lipman, 1983, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 80:726-730) using the LASERGENE™ MEGALIGN™ software (DNASTAR, Inc.,Madison, Wis.) with an identity table and the following multiplealignment parameters: Gap penalty of 10 and gap length penalty of 10.Pairwise alignment parameters were Ktuple=3, gap penalty=3, andwindows=20.

Modification of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of thepresent invention may be necessary for the synthesis of polypeptidessubstantially similar to the polypeptide. The term “substantiallysimilar” to the polypeptide refers to non-naturally occurring forms ofthe polypeptide. These polypeptides may differ in some engineered wayfrom the polypeptide isolated from its native source, e.g., variantsthat differ in specific activity, thermostability, pH optimum, or thelike. The variant sequence may be constructed on the basis of thenucleic acid sequence presented as the polypeptide encoding part of SEQID NO. 1, e.g., a subsequence thereof, and/or by introduction ofnucleotide substitutions which do not give rise to another amino acidsequence of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, butwhich correspond to the codon usage of the host organism intended forproduction of the enzyme, or by introduction of nucleotide substitutionswhich may give rise to a different amino acid sequence. For a generaldescription of nucleotide substitution, see, e.g., Ford et al., 1991,Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such substitutionscan be made outside the regions critical to the function of the moleculeand still result in an active polypeptide. Amino acid residues essentialto the activity of the polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acidsequence of the invention, and therefore preferably not subject tosubstitution, may be identified according to procedures known in theart, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis(see, e.g., Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In thelatter technique, mutations are introduced at every positively chargedresidue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are testedfor lactonohydrolase activity to identify amino acid residues that arecritical to the activity of the molecule. Sites of substrate-enzymeinteraction can also be determined by analysis of the three-dimensionalstructure as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonanceanalysis, crystallography or photoaffinity labelling (see, e.g., de Voset al., 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, Journal ofMolecular Biology 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Letters 309:59-64).

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequencesencoding a polypeptide of the present invention, which hybridize undervery low stringency conditions, preferably low stringency conditions,more preferably medium stringency conditions, more preferablymedium-high stringency conditions, even more preferably high stringencyconditions, and most preferably very high stringency conditions with anucleic acid probe which hybridizes under the same conditions with thenucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or its complementary strand; orallelic variants and subsequences thereof (Sambrook et al., 1989,supra), as defined herein.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequencesproduced by (a) hybridizing a DNA under very low, low, medium,medium-high, high, or very high stringency conditions with (i)nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1, (ii) the genomic sequencecomprising nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1, (iii) a subsequenceof (i) or (ii), or (iv) a complementary strand of (i), (ii), or (iii);and (b) isolating the nucleic acid sequence. The subsequence ispreferably a sequence of at least 100 nucleotides such as a sequencewhich encodes a polypeptide fragment which has lactonohydrolaseactivity.

Methods for Producing Mutant Nucleic Acid Sequences

The present invention further relates to methods for producing a mutantnucleic acid sequence, comprising introducing at least one mutation intothe mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or a subsequencethereof, wherein the mutant nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptidewhich consists of amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2 or a fragmentthereof which has lactonohydrolase activity.

The introduction of a mutation into the nucleic acid sequence toexchange one nucleotide for another nucleotide may be accomplished bysite-directed mutagenesis using any of the methods known in the art.Particularly useful is the procedure which utilizes a supercoiled,double stranded DNA vector with an insert of interest and two syntheticprimers containing the desired mutation. The oligonucleotide primers,each complementary to opposite strands of the vector, extend duringtemperature cycling by means of Pfu DNA polymerase. On incorporation ofthe primers, a mutated plasmid containing staggered nicks is generated.Following temperature cycling, the product is treated with DpnI which isspecific for methylated and hemimethylated DNA to digest the parentalDNA template and to select for mutation-containing synthesized DNA.Other procedures known in the art may also be used.

Nucleic Acid Constructs

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprisinga nucleic acid sequence of the present invention operably linked to oneor more control sequences which direct the expression of the codingsequence in a suitable host cell under conditions compatible with thecontrol sequences. Expression will be understood to include any stepinvolved in the production of the polypeptide including, but not limitedto, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation,post-translational modification, and secretion.

“Nucleic acid construct” is defined herein as a nucleic acid molecule,either single- or double-stranded, which is isolated from a naturallyoccurring gene or which has been modified to contain segments of nucleicacid combined and juxtaposed in a manner that would not otherwise existin nature. The term nucleic acid construct is synonymous with the termexpression cassette when the nucleic acid construct contains all thecontrol sequences required for expression of a coding sequence of thepresent invention. The term “coding sequence” is defined herein as anucleic acid sequence which directly specifies the amino acid sequenceof its protein product. The boundaries of the coding sequence aregenerally determined by a ribosome binding site (prokaryotes) or by theATG start codon (eukaryotes) located just upstream of the open readingframe at the 5′ end of the mRNA and a transcription terminator sequencelocated just downstream of the open reading frame at the 3′ end of themRNA. A coding sequence can include, but is not limited to, DNA, cDNA,and recombinant nucleic acid sequences.

An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention may be manipulated in a variety of ways to provide forexpression of the polypeptide. Manipulation of the nucleic acid sequenceprior to its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessarydepending on the expression vector. The techniques for modifying nucleicacid sequences utilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in theart.

The term “control sequences” is defined herein to include all componentswhich are necessary or advantageous for the expression of a polypeptideof the present invention. Each control sequence may be native or foreignto the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Such controlsequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylationsequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, andtranscription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences include apromoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. Thecontrol sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose ofintroducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of thecontrol sequences with the coding region of the nucleic acid sequenceencoding a polypeptide. The term “operably linked” is defined herein asa configuration in which a control sequence is appropriately placed at aposition relative to the coding sequence of the DNA sequence such thatthe control sequence directs the expression of a polypeptide.

The control sequence may be an appropriate promoter sequence, a nucleicacid sequence which is recognized by a host cell for expression of thenucleic acid sequence. The promoter sequence contains transcriptionalcontrol sequences which mediate the expression of the polypeptide. Thepromoter may be any nucleic acid sequence which shows transcriptionalactivity in the host cell of choice including mutant, truncated, andhybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encoding extracellularor intracellular polypeptides either homologous or heterologous to thehost cell.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention, especially in abacterial host cell, are the promoters obtained from the E. coli lacoperon, Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene (dagA), Bacillus subtilislevansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene(amyL), Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM),Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacilluslicheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylBgenes, and prokaryotic beta-lactamase gene (Villa-Kamaroff et al., 1978,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 75: 3727-3731), aswell as the tac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983, Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences USA 80: 21-25). Further promoters aredescribed in “Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” in ScientificAmerican, 1980, 242: 74-94; and in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungalhost cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzaeTAKA amylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Aspergillus nigerneutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger acid stable alpha-amylase,Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase (glaA), Rhizomucormiehei lipase, Aspergillus oryzae alkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzaetriose phosphate isomerase, Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase, andFusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), as well as theNA2-tpi promoter (a hybrid of the promoters from the genes forAspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase and Aspergillus oryzae triosephosphate isomerase), and mutant, truncated, and hybrid promotersthereof.

In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the genes forSaccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiaegalactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP), andSaccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other usefulpromoters for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992,Yeast 8: 423-488.

The control sequence may also be a suitable transcription terminatorsequence, a sequence recognized by a host cell to terminatetranscription. The terminator sequence is operably linked to the 3′terminus of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Anyterminator which is functional in the host cell of choice may be used inthe present invention.

Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtainedfrom the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus nigerglucoamylase, Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillusniger alpha-glucosidase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.

Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiaecytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeglyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators foryeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a suitable leader sequence, anontranslated region of an mRNA which is important for translation bythe host cell. The leader sequence is operably linked to the 5′ terminusof the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Any leadersequence that is functional in the host cell of choice may be used inthe present invention.

Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained fromthe genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulanstriose phosphate isomerase.

Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes forSaccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).

The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequenceoperably linked to the 3′ terminus of the nucleic acid sequence andwhich, when transcribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal toadd polyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylationsequence which is functional in the host cell of choice may be used inthe present invention.

Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cellsare obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase,Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus nidulans anthranilatesynthase, Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease, and Aspergillusniger alpha-glucosidase.

Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described byGuo and Sherman, 1995, Molecular Cellular Biology 15: 5983-5990.

The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region thatcodes for an amino acid sequence linked to the amino terminus of apolypeptide and directs the encoded polypeptide into the cell'ssecretory pathway. The 5′ end of the coding sequence of the nucleic acidsequence may inherently contain a signal peptide coding region naturallylinked in translation reading frame with the segment of the codingregion which encodes the secreted polypeptide. Alternatively, the 5′ endof the coding sequence may contain a signal peptide coding region whichis foreign to the coding sequence. The foreign signal peptide codingregion may be required where the coding sequence does not naturallycontain a signal peptide coding region. Alternatively, the foreignsignal peptide coding region may simply replace the natural signalpeptide coding region in order to enhance secretion of the polypeptide.However, any signal peptide coding region which directs the expressedpolypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell of choice may beused in the present invention.

Effective signal peptide coding regions for bacterial host cells are thesignal peptide coding regions obtained from the genes for Bacillus NCIB11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase,Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin, Bacillus licheniformisbeta-lactamase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT,nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides aredescribed by Simonen and Palva, 1993, Microbiological Reviews 57:109-137.

Effective signal peptide coding regions for filamentous fungal hostcells are the signal peptide coding regions obtained from the genes forAspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus niger neutral amylase,Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase,Humicola insolens cellulase, and Humicola lanuginosa lipase.

In a preferred embodiment, the signal peptide coding region isnucleotides 38 to 89 of SEQ ID NO. 1 which encodes amino acids 1 to 17of SEQ ID NO. 2.

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeinvertase. Other useful signal peptide coding regions are described byRomanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a propeptide coding region that codesfor an amino acid sequence positioned at the amino terminus of apolypeptide. The resultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme orpropolypeptide (or a zymogen in some cases). A propolypeptide isgenerally inactive and can be converted to a mature active polypeptideby catalytic or autocatalytic cleavage of the propeptide from thepropolypeptide. The propeptide coding region may be obtained from thegenes for Bacillus subtilis alkaline protease (aprE), Bacillus subtilisneutral protease (nprT), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor,Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, and Myceliophthora thermophilalaccase (WO 95/33836).

Where both signal peptide and propeptide regions are present at theamino terminus of a polypeptide, the propeptide region is positionednext to the amino terminus of a polypeptide and the signal peptideregion is positioned next to the amino terminus of the propeptideregion.

It may also be desirable to add regulatory sequences which allow theregulation of the expression of the polypeptide relative to the growthof the host cell. Examples of regulatory systems are those which causethe expression of the gene to be turned on or off in response to achemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatorycompound. Regulatory systems in prokaryotic systems include the lac,tac, and trp operator systems. In yeast, the ADH2 system or GAL1 systemmay be used. In filamentous fungi, the TAKA alpha-amylase promoter,Aspergillus niger glucoamylase promoter, and Aspergillus oryzaeglucoamylase promoter may be used as regulatory sequences. Otherexamples of regulatory sequences are those which allow for geneamplification. In eukaryotic systems, these include the dihydrofolatereductase gene which is amplified in the presence of methotrexate, andthe metallothionein genes which are amplified with heavy metals. Inthese cases, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide would beoperably linked with the regulatory sequence.

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs foraltering the expression of an endogenous gene encoding a polypeptide ofthe present invention. The constructs may contain the minimal number ofcomponents necessary for altering expression of the endogenous gene. Inone embodiment, the nucleic acid constructs preferably contain (a) atargeting sequence, (b) a regulatory sequence, (c) an exon, and (d) asplice-donor site. Upon introduction of the nucleic acid construct intoa cell, the construct inserts by homologous recombination into thecellular genome at the endogenous gene site. The targeting sequencedirects the integration of elements (a)-(d) into the endogenous genesuch that elements (b)-(d) are operably linked to the endogenous gene.In another embodiment, the nucleic acid constructs contain (a) atargeting sequence, (b) a regulatory sequence, (c) an exon, (d) asplice-donor site, (e) an intron, and (f) a splice-acceptor site,wherein the targeting sequence directs the integration of elements(a)-(f) such that elements (b)-(f) are operably linked to the endogenousgene. However, the constructs may contain additional components such asa selectable marker.

In both embodiments, the introduction of these components results inproduction of a new transcription unit in which expression of theendogenous gene is altered. In essence, the new transcription unit is afusion product of the sequences introduced by the targeting constructsand the endogenous gene. In one embodiment in which the endogenous geneis altered, the gene is activated. In this embodiment, homologousrecombination is used to replace, disrupt, or disable the regulatoryregion normally associated with the endogenous gene of a parent cellthrough the insertion of a regulatory sequence which causes the gene tobe expressed at higher levels than evident in the corresponding parentcell. The activated gene can be further amplified by the inclusion of anamplifiable selectable marker gene in the construct using methods wellknown in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670). In anotherembodiment in which the endogenous gene is altered, expression of thegene is reduced.

The targeting sequence can be within the endogenous gene, immediatelyadjacent to the gene, within an upstream gene, or upstream of and at adistance from the endogenous gene. One or more targeting sequences canbe used. For example, a circular plasmid or DNA fragment preferablyemploys a single targeting sequence, while a linear plasmid or DNAfragment preferably employs two targeting sequences.

The regulatory sequence of the construct can be comprised of one or morepromoters, enhancers, scaffold-attachment regions or matrix attachmentsites, negative regulatory elements, transcription binding sites, orcombinations of these sequences.

The constructs further contain one or more exons of the endogenous gene.An exon is defined as a DNA sequence which is copied into RNA and ispresent in a mature mRNA molecule such that the exon sequence isin-frame with the coding region of the endogenous gene. The exons can,optionally, contain DNA which encodes one or more amino acids and/orpartially encodes an amino acid. Alternatively, the exon contains DNAwhich corresponds to a 5′ non-encoding region. Where the exogenous exonor exons encode one or more amino acids and/or a portion of an aminoacid, the nucleic acid construct is designed such that, upontranscription and splicing, the reading frame is in-frame with thecoding region of the endogenous gene so that the appropriate readingframe of the portion of the mRNA derived from the second exon isunchanged.

The splice-donor site of the constructs directs the splicing of one exonto another exon. Typically, the first exon lies 5′ of the second exon,and the splice-donor site overlapping and flanking the first exon on its3′ side recognizes a splice-acceptor site flanking the second exon onthe 5′ side of the second exon. A splice-acceptor site, like asplice-donor site, is a sequence which directs the splicing of one exonto another exon. Acting in conjunction with a splice-donor site, thesplicing apparatus uses a splice-acceptor site to effect the removal ofan intron.

Expression Vectors

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectorscomprising a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention, a promoter,and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The various nucleicacid and control sequences described above may be joined together toproduce a recombinant expression vector which may include one or moreconvenient restriction sites to allow for insertion or substitution ofthe nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide at such sites.Alternatively, the nucleic acid sequence of the present invention may beexpressed by inserting the nucleic acid sequence or a nucleic acidconstruct comprising the sequence into an appropriate vector forexpression. In creating the expression vector, the coding sequence islocated in the vector so that the coding sequence is operably linkedwith the appropriate control sequences for expression.

The recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid orvirus) which can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA proceduresand can bring about the expression of the nucleic acid sequence. Thechoice of the vector will typically depend on the compatibility of thevector with the host cell into which the vector is to be introduced. Thevectors may be linear or closed circular plasmids.

The vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vectorwhich exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which isindependent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, anextrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome.The vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication.Alternatively, the vector may be one which, when introduced into thehost cell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together withthe chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated. Furthermore, asingle vector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids whichtogether contain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of thehost cell, or a transposon may be used.

The vectors of the present invention preferably contain one or moreselectable markers which permit easy selection of transformed cells. Aselectable marker is a gene the product of which provides for biocide orviral resistance, resistance to heavy metals, prototrophy to auxotrophs,and the like. Examples of bacterial selectable markers are the dal genesfrom Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis, or markers whichconfer antibiotic resistance such as ampicillin, kanamycin,chloramphenicol or tetracycline resistance. Suitable markers for yeasthost cells are ADE2, HIS3, LEU2, LYS2, MET3, TRP1, and URA3. Selectablemarkers for use in a filamentous fungal host cell include, but are notlimited to, amdS (acetamidase), argB (ornithine carbamoyltransferase),bar (phosphinothricin acetyltransferase), hygB (hygromycinphosphotransferase), niaD (nitrate reductase), pyrG(orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfate adenyltransferase),trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well as equivalents thereof. Preferredfor use in an Aspergillus cell are the amdS and pyrG genes ofAspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae and the bar gene ofStreptomyces hygroscopicus.

The vectors of the present invention preferably contain an element(s)that permits stable integration of the vector into the host cell'sgenome or autonomous replication of the vector in the cell independentof the genome.

For integration into the host cell genome, the vector may rely on thenucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide or any other element ofthe vector for stable integration of the vector into the genome byhomologous or nonhomologous recombination. Alternatively, the vector maycontain additional nucleic acid sequences for directing integration byhomologous recombination into the genome of the host cell. Theadditional nucleic acid sequences enable the vector to be integratedinto the host cell genome at a precise location(s) in the chromosome(s).To increase the likelihood of integration at a precise location, theintegrational elements should preferably contain a sufficient number ofnucleic acids, such as 100 to 10,000 base pairs, preferably 400 to10,000 base pairs, and most preferably 800 to 10,000 base pairs, whichare highly homologous with the corresponding target sequence to enhancethe probability of homologous recombination. The integrational elementsmay be any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in thegenome of the host cell. Furthermore, the integrational elements may benon-encoding or encoding nucleic acid sequences. On the other hand, thevector may be integrated into the genome of the host cell bynon-homologous recombination.

For autonomous replication, the vector may further comprise an origin ofreplication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the hostcell in question. Examples of bacterial origins of replication are theorigins of replication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184permitting replication in E. coli, and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMβ1permitting replication in Bacillus. Examples of origins of replicationfor use in a yeast host cell are the 2 micron origin of replication,ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 and CEN3, and the combination ofARS4 and CEN6. The origin of replication may be one having a mutationwhich makes its functioning temperature-sensitive in the host cell (see,e.g., Ehrlich, 1978, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA75: 1433).

More than one copy of a nucleic acid sequence of the present inventionmay be inserted into the host cell to increase production of the geneproduct. An increase in the copy number of the nucleic acid sequence canbe obtained by integrating at least one additional copy of the sequenceinto the host cell genome or by including an amplifiable selectablemarker gene with the nucleic acid sequence where cells containingamplified copies of the selectable marker gene, and thereby additionalcopies of the nucleic acid sequence, can be selected for by cultivatingthe cells in the presence of the appropriate selectable agent.

The procedures used to ligate the elements described above to constructthe recombinant expression vectors of the present invention are wellknown to one skilled in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989,supra).

Host Cells

The present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprisinga nucleic acid sequence of the invention, which are advantageously usedin the recombinant production of the polypeptides. A vector comprising anucleic acid sequence of the present invention is introduced into a hostcell so that the vector is maintained as a chromosomal integrant or as aself-replicating extra-chromosomal vector as described earlier. The term“host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is notidentical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur duringreplication. The choice of a host cell will to a large extent dependupon the gene encoding the polypeptide and its source.

The host cell may be a unicellular microorganism, e.g., a prokaryote, ora non-unicellular microorganism, e.g., a eukaryote.

Useful unicellular cells are bacterial cells such as gram positivebacteria including, but not limited to, a Bacillus cell, e.g., Bacillusalkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacilluscirculans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus lautus,Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillusstearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus thuringiensis; or aStreptomyces cell, e.g., Streptomyces lividans or Streptomyces murinus,or gram negative bacteria such as E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. In apreferred embodiment, the bacterial host cell is a Bacillus lentus,Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, or Bacillussubtilis cell. In another preferred embodiment, the Bacillus cell is analkalophilic Bacillus.

The introduction of a vector into a bacterial host cell may, forinstance, be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang andCohen, 1979, Molecular General Genetics 168: 111-115), using competentcells (see, e.g., Young and Spizizin, 1961, Journal of Bacteriology 81:823-829, or Dubnau and Davidoff-Abelson, 1971, Journal of MolecularBiology 56: 209-221), electroporation (see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower,1988, Biotechniques 6: 742-751), or conjugation (see, e.g., Koehler andThorne, 1987, Journal of Bacteriology 169: 5771-5278).

The host cell may be a eukaryote, such as a mammalian, insect, plant, orfungal cell.

In a preferred embodiment, the host cell is a fungal cell. “Fungi” asused herein includes the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota,Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., In,Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CABInternational, University Press, Cambridge, UK) as well as the Oomycota(as cited in Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra, page 171) and allmitosporic fungi (Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra).

In a more preferred embodiment, the fungal host cell is a yeast cell.“Yeast” as used herein includes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales),basidiosporogenous yeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti(Blastomycetes). Since the classification of yeast may change in thefuture, for the purposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined asdescribed in Biology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, F. A., Passmore,S. M., and Davenport, R. R., eds, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium SeriesNo. 9, 1980).

In an even more preferred embodiment, the yeast host cell is a Candida,Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, orYarrowia cell.

In a most preferred embodiment, the yeast host cell is a Saccharomycescarlsbergensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus,Saccharomyces douglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensisor Saccharomyces oviformis cell. In another most preferred embodiment,the yeast host cell is a Kluyveromyces factis cell. In another mostpreferred embodiment, the yeast host cell is a Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

In another more preferred embodiment, the fungal host cell is afilamentous fungal cell. “Filamentous fungi” include all filamentousforms of the subdivision Eumycota and Oomycota (as defined by Hawksworthet al., 1995, supra). The filamentous fungi are characterized by amycelial wall composed of chitin, cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan,and other complex polysaccharides. Vegetative growth is by hyphalelongation and carbon catabolism is obligately aerobic. In contrast,vegetative growth by yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is bybudding of a unicellular thallus and carbon catabolism may befermentative.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal host cellis a cell of a species of, but not limited to, Acremonium, Aspergillus,Fusarium, Humicola, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neurospora, Penicillium,Thielavia, Tolypocladium, or Trichoderma.

In a most preferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal host cell is anAspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus japonicus,Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus oryzae cell. Inanother most preferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal host cell is aFusarium bactridioides, Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense,Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusariumheterosporum, Fusarium negundi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusariumreticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium sambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum,Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium sulphureum, Fusarium torulosum,Fusarium trichothecioides, or Fusarium venenatum cell. In an even mostpreferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal parent cell is a Fusariumvenenatum (Nirenberg sp. nov.) cell. In another most preferredembodiment, the filamentous fungal host cell is a Humicola insolens,Humicola lanuginosa, Mucor miehei, Myceliophthora thermophila,Neurospora crassa, Penicillium purpurogenum, Thielavia terrestris,Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride cell.

Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplastformation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of thecell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures fortransformation of Aspergillus host cells are described in EP 238 023 andYelton et al., 1984, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA81: 1470-1474. Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species aredescribed by Malardier et al., 1989, Gene 78: 147-156 and WO 96/00787.Yeast may be transformed using the procedures described by Becker andGuarente, In Abelson, J. N. and Simon, M. I., editors, Guide to YeastGenetics and Molecular Biology, Methods in Enzymology, Volume 194, pp182-187, Academic Press, Inc., New York; Ito et al., 1983, Journal ofBacteriology 153: 163; and Hinnen et al., 1978, Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences USA 75: 1920.

Methods of Production

The present invention also relates to methods for producing apolypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating astrain, which in its wild-type form is capable of producing thepolypeptide, to produce a supernatant comprising the polypeptide; and(b) recovering the polypeptide. Preferably, the strain is of the genusFusarium, and more preferably Fusarium venenatum.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing apolypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a hostcell under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide; and(b) recovering the polypeptide.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing apolypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a hostcell under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide,wherein the host cell comprises a mutant nucleic acid sequence having atleast one mutation in the mature polypeptide coding region of SEQ ID NO.1, wherein the mutant nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide whichconsists of amino acids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2, and (b) recoveringthe polypeptide.

The present invention further relates to methods for producing apolypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating ahomologously recombinant cell, having incorporated therein a newtranscription unit comprising a regulatory sequence, an exon, and/or asplice donor site operably linked to a second exon of an endogenousnucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide, under conditionsconducive for production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering thepolypeptide. The methods are based on the use of gene activationtechnology, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670.

In the production methods of the present invention, the cells arecultivated in a nutrient medium suitable for production of thepolypeptide using methods known in the art. For example, the cell may becultivated by shake flask cultivation, small-scale or large-scalefermentation (including continuous, batch, fed-batch, or solid statefermentations) in laboratory or industrial fermentors performed in asuitable medium and under conditions allowing the polypeptide to beexpressed and/or isolated. The cultivation takes place in a suitablenutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganicsalts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable media are availablefrom commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to publishedcompositions (e.g., in catalogues of the American Type CultureCollection). If the polypeptide is secreted into the nutrient medium,the polypeptide can be recovered directly from the medium. If thepolypeptide is not secreted, it can be recovered from cell lysates.

The polypeptides may be detected using methods known in the art that arespecific for the polypeptides. These detection methods may include useof specific antibodies, formation of an enzyme product, or disappearanceof an enzyme substrate. For example, an enzyme assay may be used todetermine the activity of the polypeptide as described herein.

The resulting polypeptide may be recovered by methods known in the art.For example, the polypeptide may be recovered from the nutrient mediumby conventional procedures including, but not limited to,centrifugation, filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, orprecipitation.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be purified by a varietyof procedures known in the art including, but not limited to,chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic,chromatofocusing, and size exclusion), electrophoretic procedures (e.g.,preparative isoelectric focusing), differential solubility (e.g.,ammonium sulfate precipitation), SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g.,Protein Purification, J.-C. Janson and Lars Ryden, editors, VCHPublishers, New York, 1989).

Plants

The present invention also relates to a transgenic plant, plant part, orplant cell which has been transformed with a nucleic acid sequenceencoding a polypeptide having lactonohydrolase activity of the presentinvention so as to express and produce the polypeptide in recoverablequantities. The polypeptide may be recovered from the plant or plantpart. Alternatively, the plant or plant part containing the recombinantpolypeptide may be used as such for improving the quality of a food orfeed, e.g., improving nutritional value, palatability, and rheologicalproperties, or to destroy an antinutritive factor.

The transgenic plant can be dicotyledonous (a dicot) or monocotyledonous(a monocot). Examples of monocot plants are grasses, such as meadowgrass (blue grass, Poa), forage grass such as festuca, lolium, temperategrass, such as Agrostis, and cereals, e.g., wheat, oats, rye, barley,rice, sorghum, and maize (corn).

Examples of dicot plants are tobacco, legumes, such as lupins, potato,sugar beet, pea, bean and soybean, and cruciferous plants (familyBrassicaceae), such as cauliflower, rape seed, and the closely relatedmodel organism Arabidopsis thaliana.

Examples of plant parts are stem, callus, leaves, root, fruits, seeds,and tubers. Also specific plant tissues, such as chloroplast, apoplast,mitochondria, vacuole, peroxisomes, and cytoplasm are considered to be aplant part. Furthermore, any plant cell, whatever the tissue origin, isconsidered to be a plant part.

Also included within the scope of the present invention are the progenyof such plants, plant parts and plant cells.

The transgenic plant or plant cell expressing a polypeptide of thepresent invention may be constructed in accordance with methods known inthe art. Briefly, the plant or plant cell is constructed byincorporating one or more expression constructs encoding a polypeptideof the present invention into the plant host genome and propagating theresulting modified plant or plant cell into a transgenic plant or plantcell.

Conveniently, the expression construct is a nucleic acid construct whichcomprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention operably linked with appropriate regulatory sequences requiredfor expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant or plant partof choice. Furthermore, the expression construct may comprise aselectable marker useful for identifying host cells into which theexpression construct has been integrated and DNA sequences necessary forintroduction of the construct into the plant in question (the latterdepends on the DNA introduction method to be used).

The choice of regulatory sequences, such as promoter and terminatorsequences and optionally signal or transit sequences is determined, forexample, on the basis of when, where, and how the polypeptide is desiredto be expressed. For instance, the expression of the gene encoding apolypeptide of the present invention may be constitutive or inducible,or may be developmental, stage or tissue specific, and the gene productmay be targeted to a specific tissue or plant part such as seeds orleaves. Regulatory sequences are, for example, described by Tague etal., 1988, Plant Physiology 86: 506.

For constitutive expression, the 35S-CaMV promoter may be used (Francket al., 1980, Cell 21: 285-294). Organ-specific promoters may be, forexample, a promoter from storage sink tissues such as seeds, potatotubers, and fruits (Edwards & Coruzzi, 1990, Ann. Rev. Genet. 24:275-303), or from metabolic sink tissues such as meristems (Ito et al.,1994, Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 863-878), a seed specific promoter such asthe glutelin, prolamin, globulin, or albumin promoter from rice (Wu etal., 1998, Plant and Cell Physiology 39: 885-889), a Vicia faba promoterfrom the legumin B4 and the unknown seed protein gene from Vicia faba(Conrad et al., 1998, Journal of Plant Physiology 152: 708-711), apromoter from a seed oil body protein (Chen et al., 1998, Plant and CellPhysiology 39: 935-941), the storage protein napA promoter from Brassicanapus, or any other seed specific promoter known in the art, e.g., asdescribed in WO 91/14772. Furthermore, the promoter may be a leafspecific promoter such as the rbcs promoter from rice or tomato (Kyozukaet al., 1993, Plant Physiology 102: 991-1000, the chlorella virusadenine methyltransferase gene promoter (Mitra and Higgins, 1994, PlantMolecular Biology 26: 85-93), or the aldP gene promoter from rice(Kagaya et al., 1995, Molecular and General Genetics 248: 668-674), or awound inducible promoter such as the potato pin2 promoter (Xu et al.,1993, Plant Molecular Biology 22: 573-588).

A promoter enhancer element may also be used to achieve higherexpression of the enzyme in the plant. For instance, the promoterenhancer element may be an intron which is placed between the promoterand the nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention. For instance, Xu et al., 1993, supra disclose the use of thefirst intron of the rice actin 1 gene to enhance expression.

The selectable marker gene and any other parts of the expressionconstruct may be chosen from those available in the art.

The nucleic acid construct is incorporated into the plant genomeaccording to conventional techniques known in the art, includingAgrobacterium-mediated transformation, virus-mediated transformation,microinjection, particle bombardment, biolistic transformation, andelectroporation (Gasser et al., 1990, Science 244: 1293; Potrykus, 1990,Bio/Technology 8: 535; Shimamoto et al., 1989, Nature 338: 274).

Presently, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer is themethod of choice for generating transgenic dicots (for a review, seeHooykas and Schilperoort, 1992, Plant Molecular Biology 19: 15-38).However it can also be used for transforming monocots, although othertransformation methods are generally preferred for these plants.Presently, the method of choice for generating transgenic monocots isparticle bombardment (microscopic gold or tungsten particles coated withthe transforming DNA) of embryonic calli or developing embryos(Christou, 1992, Plant Journal 2: 275-281; Shimamoto, 1994, CurrentOpinion Biotechnology 5: 158-162; Vasil et al., 1992, Bio/Technology 10:667-674). An alternative method for transformation of monocots is basedon protoplast transformation as described by Omirulleh et al., 1993,Plant Molecular Biology 21: 415-428.

Following transformation, the transformants having incorporated thereinthe expression construct are selected and regenerated into whole plantsaccording to methods well-known in the art.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing apolypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating atransgenic plant or a plant cell comprising a nucleic acid sequenceencoding a polypeptide having lactonohydrolase activity of the presentinvention under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide;and (b) recovering the polypeptide.

Removal or Reduction of Lactonohydrolase Activity

The present invention also relates to methods for producing a mutantcell of a parent cell, which comprises disrupting or deleting a nucleicacid sequence encoding the polypeptide or a control sequence thereof,which results in the mutant cell producing less of the polypeptide thanthe parent cell when cultivated under the same conditions.

The construction of strains which have reduced lactonohydrolase activitymay be conveniently accomplished by modification or inactivation of anucleic acid sequence necessary for expression of the polypeptide havinglactonohydrolase activity in the cell. The nucleic acid sequence to bemodified or inactivated may be, for example, a nucleic acid sequenceencoding the polypeptide or a part thereof essential for exhibitinglactonohydrolase activity, or the nucleic acid sequence may have aregulatory function required for the expression of the polypeptide fromthe coding sequence of the nucleic acid sequence. An example of such aregulatory or control sequence may be a promoter sequence or afunctional part thereof, i.e., a part which is sufficient for affectingexpression of the polypeptide. Other control sequences for possiblemodification are described above.

Modification or inactivation of the nucleic acid sequence may beperformed by subjecting the cell to mutagenesis and selecting orscreening for cells in which the lactonohydrolase producing capabilityhas been reduced. The mutagenesis, which may be specific or random, maybe performed, for example, by use of a suitable physical or chemicalmutagenizing agent, by use of a suitable oligonucleotide, or bysubjecting the DNA sequence to PCR generated mutagenesis. Furthermore,the mutagenesis may be performed by use of any combination of thesemutagenizing agents.

Examples of a physical or chemical mutagenizing agent suitable for thepresent purpose include ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, hydroxylamine,N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), O-methyl hydroxylamine,nitrous acid, ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS), sodium bisulphite, formicacid, and nucleotide analogues.

When such agents are used, the mutagenesis is typically performed byincubating the cell to be mutagenized in the presence of themutagenizing agent of choice under suitable conditions, and selectingfor cells exhibiting reduced lactonohydrolase activity or production.

Modification or inactivation of production of a polypeptide of thepresent invention may be accomplished by introduction, substitution, orremoval of one or more nucleotides in the nucleic acid sequence encodingthe polypeptide or a regulatory element required for the transcriptionor translation thereof. For example, nucleotides may be inserted orremoved so as to result in the introduction of a stop codon, the removalof the start codon, or a change of the open reading frame. Suchmodification or inactivation may be accomplished by site-directedmutagenesis or PCR generated mutagenesis in accordance with methodsknown in the art. Although, in principle, the modification may beperformed in vivo, i.e., directly on the cell expressing the nucleicacid sequence to be modified, it is preferred that the modification beperformed in vitro as exemplified below.

An example of a convenient way to eliminate or reduce production by ahost cell of choice is by gene replacement or gene interruption. In thegene interruption method, a nucleic acid sequence corresponding to theendogenous gene or gene fragment of interest is mutagenized in vitro toproduce a defective nucleic acid sequence which is then transformed intothe host cell to produce a defective gene. By homologous recombination,the defective nucleic acid sequence replaces the endogenous gene or genefragment. It may be desirable that the defective gene or gene fragmentalso encodes a marker which may be used for selection of transformantsin which the gene encoding the polypeptide has been modified ordestroyed.

Alternatively, modification or inactivation of the nucleic acid sequencemay be performed by established anti-sense techniques using a nucleotidesequence complementary to the polypeptide encoding sequence. Morespecifically, production of the polypeptide by a cell may be reduced oreliminated by introducing a nucleotide sequence complementary to thenucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide which may be transcribedin the cell and is capable of hybridizing to the polypeptide mRNAproduced in the cell. Under conditions allowing the complementaryanti-sense nucleotide sequence to hybridize to the polypeptide mRNA, theamount of polypeptide translated is thus reduced or eliminated.

It is preferred that the cell to be modified in accordance with themethods of the present invention is of microbial origin, for example, afungal strain which is suitable for the production of desired proteinproducts, either homologous or heterologous to the cell.

The present invention further relates to a mutant cell of a parent cellwhich comprises a disruption or deletion of a nucleic acid sequenceencoding the polypeptide or a control sequence thereof, which results inthe mutant cell producing less of the polypeptide than the parent cell.

The polypeptide-deficient mutant cells so created are particularlyuseful as host cells for the expression of homologous and/orheterologous polypeptides. Therefore, the present invention furtherrelates to methods for producing a homologous or heterologouspolypeptide comprising (a) cultivating the mutant cell under conditionsconducive for production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering thepolypeptide. The term “heterologous polypeptides” is defined herein aspolypeptides which are not native to the host cell, a native protein inwhich modifications have been made to alter the native sequence, or anative protein whose expression is quantitatively altered as a result ofa manipulation of the host cell by recombinant DNA techniques.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method forproducing a protein product essentially free of lactonohydrolaseactivity by fermentation of a cell which produces both a polypeptide ofthe present invention as well as the protein product of interest byadding an effective amount of an agent capable of inhibitinglactonohydrolase activity to the fermentation broth before, during, orafter the fermentation has been completed, recovering the product ofinterest from the fermentation broth, and optionally subjecting therecovered product to further purification.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method forproducing a protein product essentially free of lactonohydrolaseactivity by cultivating the cell under conditions permitting theexpression of the product, subjecting the resultant culture broth to acombined pH and temperature treatment so as to reduce thelactonohydrolase activity substantially, and recovering the product fromthe culture broth. Alternatively, the combined pH and temperaturetreatment may be performed on an enzyme preparation recovered from theculture broth. The combined pH and temperature treatment may optionallybe used in combination with a treatment with a lactonohydrolaseinhibitor.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, it is possible toremove at least 60%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least85%, still more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least99% of the lactonohydrolase activity. Complete removal oflactonohydrolase activity may be obtained by use of this method.

The combined pH and temperature treatment is preferably carried out at apH in the range of 6.5-7.5 and a temperature in the range of 40-70° C.for a sufficient period of time to attain the desired effect, wheretypically, 30 to 60 minutes is sufficient.

The methods used for cultivation and purification of the product ofinterest may be performed by methods known in the art.

The methods of the present invention for producing an essentiallylactonohydrolase-free product is of particular interest in theproduction of eukaryotic polypeptides, in particular fungal proteinssuch as enzymes. The enzyme may be selected from, e.g., an amylolyticenzyme, lipolytic enzyme, proteolytic enzyme, cellulytic enzyme,oxidoreductase, or plant cell-wall degrading enzyme. Examples of suchenzymes include an aminopeptidase, amylase, amyloglucosidase,carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase,cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase,galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase, glucose oxidase,glucosidase, haloperoxidase, hemicellulase, invertase, isomerase,laccase, ligase, lipase, lyase, mannosidase, oxidase, pectinolyticenzyme, peroxidase, phytase, phenoloxidase, polyphenoloxidase,proteolytic enzyme, ribonuclease, transferase, transglutaminase, orxylanase. The lactonohydrolase-deficient cells may also be used toexpress heterologous proteins of pharmaceutical interest such ashormones, growth factors, receptors, and the like.

It will be understood that the term “eukaryotic polypeptides” includesnot only native polypeptides, but also those polypeptides, e.g.,enzymes, which have been modified by amino acid substitutions, deletionsor additions, or other such modifications to enhance activity,thermostability, pH tolerance and the like.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a protein productessentially free from lactonohydrolase activity which is produced by amethod of the present invention.

Biofilms

The polypeptides of the present invention may be used for preventing thedevelopment of a microbial biofilm (also known as slime).

Biofilms are biological films that develop and persist at solid surfacesin aqueous environments from the adsorption of microbial cells onto thesolid surfaces (Palmer and White, 1997, Trends in Microbiology 5:435-440; Costerton et al., 1987, Annual Reviews of Microbiology 41:435-464; Mueller, 1994, TAPPI Proceedings, 1994 Biological SciencesSymposium 195-201). This adsorption can provide a competitive advantagefor the microorganisms since they can reproduce, are accessible to awider variety of nutrients and oxygen conditions, are not washed away,and are less sensitive to antimicrobial agents. The formation of thebiofilm is also accompanied by the production of exo-polymeric materials(polysaccharides, polyuronic acids, alginates, glycoproteins, andproteins) which together with the cells form thick layers ofdifferentiated structures separated by water-filled spaces (McEldowneyand Fletcher, 1986, Journal of General Microbiology 132: 513-523;Sutherland, Surface Carbohydrates of the Prokaryotic Cell, AcademicPress, New York, 1977, pp. 27-96). The resident microorganisms may beindividual species of microbial cells or mixed communities of microbialcells, which may include aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, algae,protozoa, and fungi.

Thus, the biofilm is a complex assembly of living microorganismsembedded in an organic structure composed of one or more matrix polymerswhich are secreted by the resident microorganisms.

Biofilms can develop into macroscopic structures several millimeters orcentimeters in thickness and cover large surface areas. These formationscan play a role in restricting or entirely blocking flow in plumbingsystems, decreasing heat transfer in heat exchangers, or causingpathogenic problems in municipal water supplies, food processing,medical devices (e.g., catheters, orthopedic devices, implants) andoften decrease the life of materials through corrosive action mediatedby the embedded microorganisms. This biological fouling is a seriouseconomic problem in industrial water process systems, pulp and paperproduction processes, cooling water systems, injection wells for oilrecovery, cooling towers, porous media (sand and soil), marineenvironments, and air conditioning systems, and any closed waterrecirculation system.

The removal or prevention of biofilm traditionally requires the use ofdispersants, surfactants, detergents, enzyme formulations,anti-microbials, biocides, boil-out procedures, and/or corrosivechemicals, e.g., base. Procedures for using these measures are wellknown in the art. For example, removal of biofilm build-up in a papermachine in the pulp and paper industry traditionally requires a depositcontrol program including proper housekeeping to keep surfaces free ofsplashed stock, anti-microbial treatment of fresh water and additives,the use of biocides to reduce microbiological growth on the machine, andscheduled boil-outs to remove the deposits that do form.

The formation of a biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa involves theproduction of at least two extracellular signals involved in cell-tocell communication (WO 98/58075). The two cell-to-cell signaling systemsare the lasR-lasl and rhlR-rhil (also called vsmR-vsml) systems (Davieset al., 1998, Science 280: 295-298). The lasl gene directs the synthesisof a diffusible extracellular signal, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserinelactone. The lasR product is a transcriptional regulator that requiressufficient levels of N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone toactivate a number of virulence genes, including lasl, and the rhlR-rhllsystem. The rhil gene directs the synthesis of the extracellular signal,N-buytryl-L-homoserine lactone, which is required for activation ofvirulence genes and expression of the stationary-phase factor, RpoS, bythe rhlR gene product. This type of gene regulation has been termedquorum sensing and response. Davies et al. have demonstrated that thelasR-lasl system was involved in the differentiation of biofilmformation. WO 98/58075 provides a method whereby cell-cell communicationin bacteria via the lasR-lasl system is manipulated to control biofilmarchitecture and structural integrity.

The present invention also relates to methods for preventing biofilmdevelopment on a liquid-solid interface by one or more microorganisms,comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprisingone or more polypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity and a carrierto the liquid-solid interface to degrade one or more lactones producedby the one or more microorganisms, wherein the one or more lactones areinvolved in the formation of the biofilm.

The lactone may be any lactone involved in biofilm formation. In apreferred embodiment, the lactone is a homoserine lactone. In a morepreferred embodiment, the lactone is N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserinelactone. In another more preferred embodiment, the lactone isN-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone.

The liquid-solid interface may be any system prone to biofilmdevelopment, particularly the systems enumerated above.

The biofilm may be produced by an integrated community of two or moremicoorganisms or by one microorganism. The microorganism may be anymicroorganism involved in biofilm production including an aerobic oranaerobic bacterium (Gram positive and Gram negative), fungus (yeast orfilamentous fungus), algae, and protozoan. In a preferred embodiment,the bacteria is an aerobic bacterium. In another preferred embodiment,the bacterium is an anaerobic bacterium. In a more preferred embodiment,the aerobic bacterium is a Pseudomonas. In another more preferredembodiment, the aerobic bacterium is a Flavobacterium. In another morepreferred embodiment, the anaerobic bacterium is a Desulfovibrio. In amost preferred embodiment, the aerobic bacterium is Pseudomonasaeruginosa. In another most preferred embodiment, the anaerobicbacterium is Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.

The composition comprising one or more polypeptides havinglactonohydrolase activity may be a liquid, spray, or powder formulation.The composition may be augmented with one or more agents for degrading,removing, or preventing the formation of the biofilm. These agents mayinclude, but are not limited to, dispersants, surfactants, detergents,enzyme formulations, anti-microbials, and biocides.

In a preferred embodiment, the agent is a surfactant. In a morepreferred embodiment, the surfactant is sodium dodecyl sulfate,quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl pyridinium iodides, Tween 80,Tween, 85, Triton X-100, Brij 56, biological surfactants, rhamnolipid,surfactin, visconsin, or sulfonates.

In a preferred embodiment, the agent is one or more enzymes. In a morepreferred embodiment, the one or more enzymes is selected from the groupconsisting of a protease, alginate lyase, and carbohydrase

The present invention also relates to such compositions for preventingdevelopment of a biofilm. Furthermore, the composition may be adisinfectant composition. The disinfectant composition may be useful asa disinfectant for Gram negative bacteria from, including but notlimited to, Pseudomonadaceae, Azatobacteraceae, Rhizabiaeceae,Methylococcaceae, Halobacteriaceae, Legionellaceae, Neisseriaceae.

Other Uses

The present invention is also directed to other methods of using thepolypeptides having lactonohydrolase activity.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be used in the hydrolysisof aldonate γ- or δ-lactones (e.g., D-gulono-γ-lactone,L-mannono-γ-lactone, D-galactono-γ-lactone, or D-glucono-δ-lactone) oraromatic γ- or δ-lactones (e.g., dihydrocoumarin and homogentisic acidlactone) to the corresponding acids.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be also used for theoptical resolution of D,L-pantolactone via D-selective asymmetrichydrolysis to produce D-pantothenate according to the methods describedin WO 97/10341. However, the enzyme may be cell-bound, immobilized on acarrier, or used in a free form using methods well known in the art forenzymatic optical resolution.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be also used for thedebitering of citrus juice via the hydrolysis of a aldonate or aromaticγ- or δ-lactone, for example, limonin.

The polypeptides of the present invention may also be used for thedetoxification of apple juice contaminated with patulin.

Signal Peptide

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprisinga gene encoding a protein operably linked to a nucleic acid sequenceconsisting of nucleotides 38 to 89 of SEQ ID NO. 1 encoding a signalpeptide consisting of amino acids 1 to 17 of SEQ ID NO. 2, wherein thegene is foreign to the nucleic acid sequence.

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectors andrecombinant host cells comprising such a nucleic acid construct.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing a proteincomprising (a) cultivating such a recombinant host cell under conditionssuitable for production of the protein; and (b) recovering the protein.

The nucleic acid sequence may be operably linked to foreign genes withother control sequences. Such other control sequences are describedsupra.

The protein may be native or heterologous to a host cell. The term“protein” is not meant herein to refer to a specific length of theencoded product and, therefore, encompasses peptides, oligopeptides, andproteins. The term “protein” also encompasses two or more polypeptidescombined to form the encoded product. The proteins also include hybridpolypeptides which comprise a combination of partial or completepolypeptide sequences obtained from at least two different proteinswherein one or more may be heterologous or native to the host cell.Proteins further include naturally occurring allelic and engineeredvariations of the above mentioned proteins and hybrid proteins.

Preferably, the protein is a hormone, hormone variant, enzyme, receptoror a portion thereof, antibody or a portion thereof, or reporter. In amore preferred embodiment, the protein is an oxidoreductase,transferase, hydrolase, lyase, isomerase, or ligase. In an even morepreferred embodiment, the protein is an aminopeptidase, amylase,carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase,cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase,alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase,alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, invertase, laccase, lipase,mannosidase, mutanase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme, peroxidase,phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, ribonuclease,transglutaminase or xylanase.

The gene may be obtained from any prokaryotic, eukaryotic, or othersource.

The present invention is further described by the following exampleswhich should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

Chemicals used as buffers and substrates were commercial products of atleast reagent grade.

Media and Solutions

COVE trace metals solution was composed per liter of 0.04 g ofNaB₄O₇.10H₂O, 0.4 g of CuSO₄.5H₂O, 1.2 g of FeSO₄.7H₂O, 0.7 g ofMnSO₄.H₂O, 0.8 g of Na₂MoO₂.2H₂O, and 10 g of ZnSO₄.7H₂O.

50×COVE salts solution was composed per liter of 26 g of KCl, 26 g ofMgSO₄.7H₂O, 76 g of KH₂PO₄, and 50 ml of COVE trace metals.

COVE medium was composed per liter of 342.3 g of sucrose, 20 ml of50×COVE salt solution, 10 ml of 1 M acetamide, 10 ml of 1.5 M CsCl₂, and25 g of Noble agar.

50×Vogels medium was composed per liter of 150 g of sodium citrate, 250g of KH₂PO₄, 10 g of MgSO₄.7H₂O, 10 g of CaCl₂.2H₂O, 2.5 ml of biotinstock solution, and 5.0 ml of AMG trace metals solution.

COVE top agarose was composed per liter of 20 ml of 50×COVE salts, 0.8 Msucrose, 1.5 M cesium chloride, 1.0 M acetamide, and 10 g of low meltagarose, pH adjusted to 6.0.

RA sporulation medium was composed per liter of 50 g of succinic acid,12.1 g of NaNO₃, 1 g of glucose, 20 ml of 50×Vogels, and 0.5 ml of a 10mg/ml NaMoO₄ stock solution, pH to 6.0.

YEPG medium was composed per liter of 10 g of yeast extract, 20 g ofpeptone, and 20 g of glucose.

STC was composed of 0.8 M sorbitol, 25 mM Tris pH 8, 25 mM CaCl₂.

SPTC was composed of 40% PEG 4000, 0.8 M sorbitol, 25 mM Tris pH 8, 25mM CaCl₂.

M400Da medium was composed per liter of 50 g of maltodextrin, 2 g ofMgSO₄.7H₂O, 2 g of KH₂PO₄, 4 g of citric acid, 8 g of yeast extract, 2 gof urea, and 1 ml of COVE trace metals solution.

Example 1

Fermentation and Mycelial Tissue

Fusarium venenatum CC1-3, a morphological mutant of Fusarium strain ATCC20334 (Wiebe et al., 1991, Mycol. Research 95: 1284-1288), was grown ina two-liter lab-scale fermentor using a fed-batch fermentation schemewith NUTRIOSE™ (Roquette Freres, S. A., Beinheim, France) as the carbonsource and yeast extract. Ammonium phosphate was provided in the feed.The pH was maintained at 6 to 6.5, and the temperature was kept at 30°C. with positive dissolved oxygen.

Mycelial samples were harvested at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days post-inoculum andquick-frozen in liquid nitrogen. The samples were stored at −80° C.until they were disrupted for RNA extraction.

Example 2

cDNA Library Construction

Total cellular RNA was extracted from the mycelial samples described inExample 1 according to the method of Timberlake and Barnard (1981, Cell26: 29-37), and the RNA samples were analyzed by Northern hybridizationafter blotting from 1% formaldehyde-agarose gels (Davis et al., 1986,Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishing Co.,Inc., New York). Polyadenylated mRNA fractions were isolated from totalRNA with an mRNA Separator Kit™ (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto,Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Double-strandedcDNA was synthesized using approximately 5 μg of poly(A)+ mRNA accordingto the method of Gubler and Hoffman (1983, Gene 25: 263-269) except aNotI-(dT)18 primer (Pharmacia Biotech, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.) was usedto initiate first strand synthesis. The cDNA was treated with mung beannuclease (Boehringer Mannheim Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.) and theends were made blunt with T4 DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs,Beverly, Mass.).

The cDNA was digested with NotI, size selected by agarose gelelectrophoresis (ca. 0.7-4.5 kb), and ligated with pZErO-2.1 (InvitrogenCorporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) which had been cleaved with NotI plusEcoRV and dephosphorylated with calf-intestine alkaline phosphatase(Boehringer Mannheim Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.). The ligationmixture was used to transform competent E. coli TOP10 cells (InvitrogenCorporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). Transformants were selected on 2YT agarplates (Miller, 1992, A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics. A LaboratoryManual and Handbook for Escherichia coli and Related Bacteria, ColdSpring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) which contained kanamycinat a final concentration of 50 μg/ml.

Two independent directional cDNA libraries were constructed using theplasmid cloning vector pZErO-2.1. Library A was made using mRNA frommycelia harvested at four days, and Library B was constructed with mRNAfrom the six day time point. Neither cDNA library was amplified in orderto examine a representative “snapshot” of the gene expression profile inthe cells. Instead the libraries were plated, titered, and independentclones from each was analyzed by DNA sequencing.

Library A (4 day cells) consisted about 7.5×10⁴ independent clones andLibrary B (6 day cells) consisted of roughly 1.2×10⁵ clones. MiniprepDNA was isolated from forty colonies in each library and checked for thepresence and size of cDNA inserts. In this analysis 39 of 40 colonies(97.5%) from Library A contained inserts with sizes ranging from 600 bpto 2200 bp (avg.=1050 bp). Similarly, 39 of 40 colonies (97.5%) pickedfrom Library B had inserts with sizes ranging from 800 bp to 3600 bp(avg.=1380 bp).

Example 3

Template Preparation and Nucleotide Sequencing

From each cDNA library described in Example 2, 1192 transformantcolonies were picked directly from the transformation plates into96-well microtiter dishes which contained 200 μl of 2YT broth (Miller,1992, supra) with 50 μg/ml kanamycin. The plates were incubatedovernight at 37° C. without shaking. After incubation 100 μl of sterile50% glycerol was added to each well. The transformants were replicatedinto secondary, deep-dish 96-well microculture plates (Advanced GeneticTechnologies Corporation, Gaithersburg, Md.) containing 1 ml ofMagnificent Broth™ (MacConnell Research, San Diego, Calif.) supplementedwith 50 μg of kanamycin per ml in each well. The primary microtiterplates were stored frozen at −80° C. The secondary deep-dish plates wereincubated at 37° C. overnight with vigorous agitation (300 rpm) onrotary shaker. To prevent spilling and cross-contamination, and to allowsufficient aeration, each secondary culture plate was covered with apolypropylene pad (Advanced Genetic Technologies Corporation,Gaithersburg, Md.) and a plastic microtiter dish cover.

DNA was isolated from each well using the 96-well Miniprep Kit protocolof Advanced Genetic Technologies Corporation (Gaithersburg, Md.) asmodified by Utterback et al. (1995, Genome Sci. Technol. 1: 1-8).Single-pass DNA sequencing was done with a Perkin-Elmer AppliedBiosystems Model 377 XL Automatic DNA Sequencer (Perkin-Elmer AppliedBiosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.) using dye-terminator chemistry(Giesecke et al., 1992, Journal of Virology Methods 38: 47-60) and thereverse lac sequencing primer.

Example 4

Analysis of DNA Sequence Data

Nucleotide sequence data were scrutinized for quality, and samplesgiving improper spacing or ambiguity levels exceeding 2% were discardedor re-run. Vector sequences were trimmed manually with assistance ofFACTURA™ software (Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City,Calif.). In addition, sequences were truncated at the end of each samplewhen the number of ambiguous base calls increased. All sequences werecompared to each other to determine multiplicity using AutoAssembler™software (Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.).Lastly, all sequences were translated in three frames and searchedagainst a non-redundant data base (NRDB) using GeneAssist™ software(Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.) with amodified Smith-Waterman algorithm using the BLOSUM 62 matrix with athreshold score of 70. The NRDB was assembled from Genpept, Swiss-Prot,and PIR databases.

Example 5

Identification of Lactonohydrolase cDNA Clone

Putative lactonohydrolase clones were identified by partial sequencingof random cDNA clones using an Applied Biosystems Model 377 XL AutomatedDNA Sequencer according to the manufacturer's instructions andcomparison of the deduced amino acid sequence to the amino acid sequenceof Fusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase (Swissprot accession numberW21857) as described in Example 4. Among several clones discovered inthis manner, one was presumed to be full-length on the basis of itsalignment to the Fusarium oxysporum lactonohydrolase amino acid sequenceand the presence of a possible signal peptide, detected using theSignal-P computer program (Nielsen, et al., 1997, Protein Engineering10: 1-6). This clone designated E. coli FA0576, containing pFA0576 wasselected for nucleotide sequence analysis and expression studies.

Example 6

Nucleotide Sequencing and Characterization of the Fusarium venenatumLactonohydrolase cDNA from E. coli FA0576

DNA sequencing was performed with an Applied Biosystems Model 377 XLAutomated DNA Sequencer using dye-terminator chemistry. Contiguoussequences were generated using a transposon insertion strategy (PrimerIsland Transposition Kit, Perkin-Elmer/Applied Biosystems, Inc., FosterCity, Calif.). The lactonohydrolase clone from E. coli FA0576 wassequenced to an average redundancy of 5.9.

The lactonohydrolase clone encoded an open reading frame of 1200 bpencoding a polypeptide of 400 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence (SEQID NO. 1) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO. 2) are shown inFIG. 1. Using the SignalP program (Nielsen et al., 1997, ProteinEngineering 10: 1-6), a signal peptide of 17 residues was predicted.Thus, the mature lactonohydrolase is composed of 383 amino acids.

A comparative alignment of lactonohydrolase sequences was undertakenusing the Clustal method (Higgins, 1989, CABIOS 5: 151-153) using theLASERGENE™ MEGALIGN™ software (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, Wis.) with anidentity table and the following multiple alignment parameters: Gappenalty of 10, and gap length penalty of 10. Pairwise alignmentparameters were Ktuple=1, gap penalty=3, windows=5, and diagonals=5.

The comparative alignment showed that the Fusarium venenatumlactonohydrolase shares 87% identity with the lactonohydrolase fromFusarium oxysporum (WO 97/10341). There are 5 potential N-linkedglycosylation sites (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) within the Fusarium venenatumlactonohydrolase, however, one of these sites contains an internal Proresidue, and thus, it is not likely to be utilized. All of the remainingglycosylation sites are conserved in the Fusarium oxysporumlactonohydrolase, which is known to bear 3 types of N-linkedhigh-mannose carbohydrates at Asn residues 28, 106, 179, and 277 (WO97/10341).

Example 7

Construction of pDM181

Plasmid pDM181 was constructed using the technique of splice overlapextension to fuse the 1.2 kb Fusarium oxysporum trypsin promoter (SP387)to the 1.1 kb Fusarium oxysporum trypsin terminator (SP387). Apolylinker containing SwaI, KpnI and PacI restriction sites was insertedbetween the promoter and terminator as part of the overlapping PCRstrategy. At the 5′ end of the promoter a XhoI site was added and thenative EcoRI site was preserved. At the 3′ end of the terminator EcoRI,HindIII and NsiI sites were incorporated by the PCR reaction.

A PCR fragment containing −1208 to −1 of the Fusarium oxysporum trypsinpromoter plus a 25 base pair polylinker was generated from plasmidpJRoy20 (Royer et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 1479-1483) using thefollowing primers:

Primer 1 (sense): 5′-GAGCTCGAGGAATTCTTACAAACCTTCAAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 3)

XhoI EcoRI

Primer 2 (antisense):

5′-TTAATTAAGGTACCTGAATTTAAATGGTGAAGAGATAGATATCCAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 4)

PacI KpnI SwaI

The 100 μl PCR reaction contained 1×Pwo buffer (Boehringer Mannheim,Indianapolis, Ind.), 200 μM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 10 ng ofpJRoy20, and 5 units of Pwo DNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim,Indianapolis, Ind.). PCR conditions used were 95° C. for 3 minutesfollowed by 25 cycles each at 95° C. for 30 seconds, 50° C. for 1minute, and 72° C. for 1 minute. The final extension cycle was at 72° C.for 5 minutes.

Using the same PCR conditions, a second PCR fragment containing bp −5 to−1 of the Fusarium oxysporum trypsin promoter, a 25 base pairpolylinker, and 1060 base pairs of the 3′ untranslated region of theFusarium oxysporum trypsin gene (terminator region) was generated fromplasmid pJRoy20 using the following primers:

Primer 3 (sense):

5′-TCACCATTTAAATTCAGGTACCTTAATTAAATTCCTTGTTGGAAGCGTCGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 5)

SwaI KpnI PacI

Primer 4 (antisense):

5′-TGGTATGCATAAGCTTGAATTCAGGTAAACAAGATATAATTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 6)

NsiI HindIII EcoRI

The final 2.3 kb overlapping PCR fragment which contained −1208 to −1 ofthe Fusarium oxysporum trypsin promoter, the 25 base pair polylinker and1060 base pairs of the Fusarium oxysporum trypsin terminator wasobtained using 0.2 μl of the first PCR (promoter) reaction and 3 μl ofthe second (terminator) reaction as templated and primers 1 and 4. ThePCR conditions used were 95° C. for 3 minutes followed by 30 cycles eachat 95° C. for 30 seconds, 62° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 3 minutes.The final extension cycle was at 72° C. for 5 minutes. Pwo DNApolymerase was also used for this reaction.

The resulting 2.3 kb fragment containing the trypsin promoter, thepolylinker, and the trypsin terminator was digested with EcoRI andligated into the EcoRI digested vector pMT1612 containing the bar gene(WO 97/26330) to create pDM181 (FIG. 2).

Example 8

Construction of Plasmid pSheB1

The Fusarium venenatum expression vector pSheB1 (FIG. 3) was generatedby modification of pDM181. The modifications included (a) removal of twoNcoI sites within the pDM181 sequence, and (b) restoration of thenatural translation start of the Fusarium oxysporum trypsin promoter(reconstruction of an NcoI site at the ATG start codon).

Removal of two NcoI sites within the pDM181 sequence was accomplishedusing the QuikChange™ site-directed mutagenesis kit (Stratagene CloningSystems, La Jolla, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructionwith the following pairs of mutagenesis primers:

5′-dCAGTGAATTGGCCTCGATGGCCGCGGCCGCGAATT-3′ plus (SEQ ID NO. 7)

5′-dAATTCGCGGCCGCGGCCATCGAGGCCAATTCACTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 8)

5′-dCACGAAGGAAAGACGATGGCTTTCACGGTGTCTG-3′ plus (SEQ ID NO. 9)

5′-dCAGACACCGTGAAAGCCATCGTCTTTCCTTCGTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 10)

Restoration of the natural translation start of the Fusarium oxysporumtrypsin promoter was also accomplished using the Stratagene QuikChange™site directed mutagenesis kit in conjunction with the following pair ofmutagenesis primers:

5′-dCTATCTCTTCACCATGGTACCTTAATTAAATACCTTGTTGGAAGCG-3′ plus (SEQ ID NO.11)

5′-dCGCTTCCAACAAGGTATTTAATTAAGGTACCATGGTGAAGAGATAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO. 12)

All site-directed changes were confirmed by DNA sequence analysis of theappropriate vector regions.

Example 9

Construction of Expression Vector pTriggs1

The lactonohydrolase-expression vector pTriggs1 (FIG. 4) using thefollowing protocol. The lactonohydrolase coding region was amplifiedfrom clone FA0576 using the following pair of primers:

5′-dCGGCATGCCTTCCACCATTGCTG-3′ (forward) (SEQ ID NO. 13)

5′-dTTAATTAACTAGTCATATAACTTGGGTCC-3′ (reverse) (SEQ ID NO. 14).

The forward primer introduces an SphI restriction site at the startcodon, and the reverse primer introduces a PacI site after the stopcodon.

The amplification reaction (50 μl) contained the following components:0.8 μg of clone FA0576 cDNA, 40 pmol of the forward primer, 40 pmol ofthe reverse primer, 200 μM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 1×Pwo DNApolymerase buffer, and 2.5 units of Pwo DNA polymerase. The reactionswere incubated in a Perkin-Elmer Model 480 Thermal Cycler programmed for30 cycles each at 950° C. for 3 minutes, 58° C. for 2 minutes, and 72°C. for 2 minutes. The reaction products were isolated on a 1.5% agarosegel (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y.) where a 1.2 kb product band wasexcised from the gel and purified using Qiaex II (Qiagen, Chatsworth,Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The amplified lactonohydrolase segment was digested with SphI and thentreated with DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment; Boehringer Mannheim,Indianapolis, Ind.) in the presence of dNTPs. The 3→5′ exonucleaseactivity of this enzyme removes the 4 nucleotides of the SphI cohesiveend, generating a blunt-ended DNA fragment. The Klenow-treated fragmentwas then digested with PacI and purified by agarose gel electrophoresisusing standard methods (see Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

The purified DNA segment was ligated to the vector pSheB1 which had beenpreviously cleaved with NcoI, treated with DNA polymerase I (Klenowfragment) as above, then digested with PacI. Treating the NcoI-digestedvector with Klenow fragment results in “filling-in” of the NcoI cohesiveend, thereby making it blunt and compatible with the Klenow-treated SphIsite of the lactonohydrolase DNA segment. The resulting expressionplasmid was designated pTriggs1 (FIG. 4).

Example 10

Expression of Lactonohydrolase cDNA in Fusarium venenatum

Spores of Fusarium venenatum CC1-3 (MLY-3) were generated by inoculatinga flask containing 500 ml of RA sporulation medium with 10 plugs from a1×Vogels medium plate (2.5% Noble agar) supplemented with 2.5% glucoseand 2.5 mM sodium nitrate and incubating at 28° C., 150 rpm for 2 to 3days. Spores were harvested through Miracloth (Calbiochem, San Diego,Calif.) and centrifuged 20 minutes at 7000 rpm in a Sorvall RC-5Bcentrifuge (E. I. DuPont De Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del.). Pelletedspores were washed twice with sterile distilled water, resuspended in asmall volume of water, and then counted using a hemocytometer.

Protoplasts were prepared by inoculating 100 ml of YEPG medium with4×10⁷ spores of Fusarium venenatum CC1-3 and incubating for 16 hours at24° C. and 150 rpm. The culture was centrifuged for 7 minutes at 3500rpm in a Sorvall RT 6000D (E. I. DuPont De Nemours and Co., Wilmington,Del.). Pellets were washed twice with 30 ml of 1 M MgSO₄ and resuspendedin 15 ml of 5 mg/ml of NOVOZYME 234™ (batch PPM 4356, Novo Nordisk A/S,Bagsvaerd, Denmark) in 1 M MgSO₄. Cultures were incubated at 24° C. and150 rpm until protoplasts formed. A volume of 35 ml of 2 M sorbitol wasadded to the protoplast digest and the mixture was centrifuged at 2500rpm for 10 minutes. The pellet was resuspended, washed twice with STC,and centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes to pellet the protoplasts.Protoplasts were counted with a hemocytometer and resuspended in an8:2:0.1 solution of STC:SPTC:DMSO to a final concentration of 1.25×10⁷protoplasts/ml. The protoplasts were stored at −80° C., aftercontrolled-rate freezing in a Nalgene Cryo 1° C. Freezing Container (VWRScientific, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.).

Frozen protoplasts of Fusarium venenatum CC1-3 were thawed on ice. Fiveμg of pTriggs1 described in Example 9 and 5 μl of heparin (5 mg per mlof STC) was added to a 50 ml sterile polypropylene tube. One hundred μlof protoplasts was added, mixed gently, and incubated on ice for 30minutes. One ml of SPTC was added and incubated 20 minutes at roomtemperature. After the addition of 25 ml of 40° C. COVE top agarose, themixture was poured onto an empty 150 mm diameter plate and incubatedovernight at room temperature. Then an additional 25 ml of 40° C. COVEtop agarose containing 10 mg of BASTA™ per ml was poured on top of theplate and incubated at room temperature for up to 14 days. The activeingredient in the herbicide BASTA™ is phosphinothricin. BASTA™ wasobtained from AgrEvo (Hoechst Schering, Rodovre, Denmark) and wasextracted twice with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1), andonce with chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (24:1) before use.

Three transformants were picked directly from the selection plates (COVEunderlay with COVE-BASTA™ overlay) into 125 ml shake flasks containing25 ml of M400Da medium supplemented with 1 mM CaCl₂ and 100 μg/mlampicillin (to prevent bacterial contamination) and incubated at 28° C.,200 rpm on a platform shaker for 6 days. The untransformed recipientstrain was also included as a negative control.

Flasks were sampled at 6 days. Cells were removed by centrifugation, and10 μl of each supernatant sample was heated to 95° C. for 5 minutes withan equal volume of SDS-PAGE sample buffer (Novex ExperimentalTechnology, San Diego, Calif.). The denatured supernatant proteins wereseparated on a 10-20% gradient gel (Novex Experimental Technology, SanDiego, Calif.) and stained with Coomassie blue

SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the lactonohydrolase-producingtransformants secrete a prominent polypeptide with an apparent molecularweight of approximately 55 kDa. The apparent molecular weight of thisspecies (ca. 55,000) is substantially greater than the predictedmolecular weight of the mature lactonohydrolase (ca. 41,600), suggestingthat the enzyme may be extensively glycosylated. The observed molecularweight agrees closely to the subunit molecular weight of the Fusariumoxysporum lactonohydrolase (60,000) reported by Shimizu and Kataoka(1996, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 799: 650-658). Activelactonohydrolase is reportedly a dimer (Shimizu and Kataoka, 1996,supra).

Example 11

Purification of Recombinantly Produced Lactonohydrolase

Shake flask broth obtained as described in Example 9 was filteredthrough Miracloth then frozen. The thawed sample was filtered through a0.45 μm syringe filter and diluted and pH adjusted to 2.4 mS and pH 7.5.The sample was loaded onto a Q-Sepharose Big Beads column (90 ml) whichhad been pre-equilibrated using 20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, containing 1 mMCaCl₂. The column was washed until baseline absorbance was reached. Alinear gradient from 0-0.3 M NaCl in 20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, containing 1mM CaCl₂ was run over 6.67 column volumes. Fractions were assayed usingthe following assay.

A 20 μl volume of enzyme sample was added to 140 μl of 50 mM potassiumphosphate pH 7.0 along with 40 μl of 100 mM D-galacturonic acid γlactone in 50 mM potassium phosphate pH 7.0. The reaction was incubatedfor 34 minutes. A 50 μl sample of the solution was placed into anotherwell along with 50 μl of a 1:1 2 N hydroxylamine-HCl to 3.5 N NaOHsolution. Then 100 μl of a 1:1 ethanol to 10% w/v ferric chloride in 4 NHCl was added. The absorbance at 520 nm was then measured. A decrease inabsorbance at 520 nm indicated a lower concentration of the lactonesubstrate.

The eluted enzyme was determined to be homogeneous by SDS PAGE.

Example 12

Lactonization of Pantoic Acid

Pantoic acid was prepared by hydrolyzing pantoyl lactone (130 mg) in 2ml of 5 N NaOH for 15 minutes at room temperature. The solution pH wasadjusted to 5 by the addition of ˜1.5 ml 6M HCl and water was added to afinal volume of 10 ml to achieve a final pantoic acid concentration of100 mM.

The substrate was incubated with broth for 30 minutes at 30° C. andassayed for lactone formation by the standard method below. Incubationwith 0.25 M sodium acetate pH 5 resulted in four-fold more extensivelactonization than 20 mM sodium phosphate pH 6.4.

Deposit of Biological Material

The following biological material has been deposited under the terms ofthe Budapest Treaty with the Agricultural Research Service PatentCulture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 UniversityStreet, Peoria, Ill., 61604, and given the following accession number:

Deposit Accession Number Date of Deposit E. coli TOP10 (pFA0576) NRRLB-30074 Oct. 27, 1998

The strain has been deposited under conditions that assure that accessto the culture will be available during the pendency of this patentapplication to one determined by the Commissioner of Patents andTrademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. §1.14 and 35 U.S.C.§122. The deposit represents a substantially pure culture of thedeposited strain. The deposit is available as required by foreign patentlaws in countries wherein counterparts of the subject application, orits progeny are filed. However, it should be understood that theavailability of a deposit does not constitute a license to practice thesubject invention in derogation of patent rights granted by governmentalaction.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scopeby the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodimentsare intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Anyequivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of thisinvention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition tothose shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilledin the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are alsointended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case ofconflict, the present disclosure including definitions will control.

Various references are cited herein, the disclosures of which areincorporated by reference in their entireties.

14 1 1334 DNA Fusarium 1 ctcccacacc actcagtttc acttctacct cattcgccatgccttccacc attgctgccc 60 ttgttgtcgg gatttgtggc gttgccgctg ccaaacttccctccacggct caggtcattg 120 atcagaagtc tttcaatgtt ttgaaggatg tcccaccaccttccgtggct aatgacacac 180 tggtctttac atggcccgga gtgacagagg aatctctcgtcgagaaaccc ttccatgttt 240 atgatgatga attcctcgat gtcatcggaa aggatccctctctgacactt gttgctacgt 300 cagaaagcga ccccatcttc cacgaggctg tagtctggtacccacctaca gacgaggttt 360 ttttcgtgca aaatgcgggt gctcctgcgg caggcactggcctgaacaag tcttccatca 420 tccagaagat ttctctcaaa gatgcagagg ctttgcgcaagggaacccta ggcaaggatg 480 aagtgaaggt gacagtcgtt gacacagcta accctcaagtcattaacccc aatggtggca 540 tttactacaa gggcgaaatc atctttgctg gtgaaggccaaggtgacgaa gttccctcgg 600 ccctttaccg catgaacccc ttgcctccat acaacacaagcaccctcctc aacaactact 660 ttggccgcca gttcaactcc ttgaacgacg ttggcatcaaccccaggaat ggtgacttgt 720 acttcaccga cactctctac ggctatctcc aagacttccgtcctgtccct ggtctgcgaa 780 accaagtgta ccgatacaac ttcgacactg gtgctgtaactgttgtcgct gatgacttta 840 ctcttcccaa cggtattggt tttgctcctg atggaaagcgtgtctatgtc accgacactg 900 gcatcgctct tggcttctac ggccgtaacc tttcctcccccgcctctgtt tactctttcg 960 acgtgaacaa ggatggtacc cttgagaacc gcaagacttttgcctacgta gcttctttca 1020 tcccagacgg tgttcatacc gattccaagg gtcgtgtctatgctggttgt ggtgacggtg 1080 tccatgtctg gaacccctct ggcaagctca ttggcaagatctataccggg atcactgctg 1140 ccaacttcca atttgctgga aaaggaagat tgattatcactggtcagact aagctgttct 1200 acgttaccct ggctgcttca ggacccaagt tatatgactagaactcccct gtggcagtat 1260 agaaacagat attttaccgt attgatagaa gataatattaattattaatc gataaaaaaa 1320 aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 1334 2 400 PRT Fusarium 2 MetPro Ser Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Val Val Gly Ile Cys Gly Val Ala 1 5 10 15Ala Ala Lys Leu Pro Ser Thr Ala Gln Val Ile Asp Gln Lys Ser Phe 20 25 30Asn Val Leu Lys Asp Val Pro Pro Pro Ser Val Ala Asn Asp Thr Leu 35 40 45Val Phe Thr Trp Pro Gly Val Thr Glu Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Lys Pro 50 55 60Phe His Val Tyr Asp Asp Glu Phe Leu Asp Val Ile Gly Lys Asp Pro 65 70 7580 Ser Leu Thr Leu Val Ala Thr Ser Glu Ser Asp Pro Ile Phe His Glu 85 9095 Ala Val Val Trp Tyr Pro Pro Thr Asp Glu Val Phe Phe Val Gln Asn 100105 110 Ala Gly Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Thr Gly Leu Asn Lys Ser Ser Ile Ile115 120 125 Gln Lys Ile Ser Leu Lys Asp Ala Glu Ala Leu Arg Lys Gly ThrLeu 130 135 140 Gly Lys Asp Glu Val Lys Val Thr Val Val Asp Thr Ala AsnPro Gln 145 150 155 160 Val Ile Asn Pro Asn Gly Gly Ile Tyr Tyr Lys GlyGlu Ile Ile Phe 165 170 175 Ala Gly Glu Gly Gln Gly Asp Glu Val Pro SerAla Leu Tyr Arg Met 180 185 190 Asn Pro Leu Pro Pro Tyr Asn Thr Ser ThrLeu Leu Asn Asn Tyr Phe 195 200 205 Gly Arg Gln Phe Asn Ser Leu Asn AspVal Gly Ile Asn Pro Arg Asn 210 215 220 Gly Asp Leu Tyr Phe Thr Asp ThrLeu Tyr Gly Tyr Leu Gln Asp Phe 225 230 235 240 Arg Pro Val Pro Gly LeuArg Asn Gln Val Tyr Arg Tyr Asn Phe Asp 245 250 255 Thr Gly Ala Val ThrVal Val Ala Asp Asp Phe Thr Leu Pro Asn Gly 260 265 270 Ile Gly Phe AlaPro Asp Gly Lys Arg Val Tyr Val Thr Asp Thr Gly 275 280 285 Ile Ala LeuGly Phe Tyr Gly Arg Asn Leu Ser Ser Pro Ala Ser Val 290 295 300 Tyr SerPhe Asp Val Asn Lys Asp Gly Thr Leu Glu Asn Arg Lys Thr 305 310 315 320Phe Ala Tyr Val Ala Ser Phe Ile Pro Asp Gly Val His Thr Asp Ser 325 330335 Lys Gly Arg Val Tyr Ala Gly Cys Gly Asp Gly Val His Val Trp Asn 340345 350 Pro Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Gly Lys Ile Tyr Thr Gly Ile Thr Ala Ala355 360 365 Asn Phe Gln Phe Ala Gly Lys Gly Arg Leu Ile Ile Thr Gly GlnThr 370 375 380 Lys Leu Phe Tyr Val Thr Leu Ala Ala Ser Gly Pro Lys LeuTyr Asp 385 390 395 400 3 30 DNA Fusarium 3 gagctcgagg aattcttacaaaccttcaac 30 4 47 DNA Fusarium 4 ttaattaagg tacctgaatt taaatggtgaagagatagat atccaag 47 5 51 DNA Fusarium 5 tcaccattta aattcaggtaccttaattaa attccttgtt ggaagcgtcg a 51 6 42 DNA Fusarium 6 tggtatgcataagcttgaat tcaggtaaac aagatataat tt 42 7 35 DNA Fusarium 7 cagtgaattggcctcgatgg ccgcggccgc gaatt 35 8 35 DNA Fusarium 8 aattcgcggc cgcggccatcgaggccaatt cactg 35 9 34 DNA Fusarium 9 cacgaaggaa agacgatggc tttcacggtgtctg 34 10 34 DNA Fusarium 10 cagacaccgt gaaagccatc gtctttcctt cgtg 3411 46 DNA Fusarium 11 ctatctcttc accatggtac cttaattaaa taccttgttg gaagcg46 12 46 DNA Fusarium 12 cgcttccaac aaggtattta attaaggtac catggtgaagagatag 46 13 23 DNA Fusarium 13 cggcatgcct tccaccattg ctg 23 14 29 DNAFusarium 14 ttaattaact agtcatataa cttgggtcc 29

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding apolypeptide having lactonohydrolase activity, selected from the groupconsisting of: (a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide havingan amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity with amino acids18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO. 2; (b) a nucleic acid sequence having at least95% homology with nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO. 1; and (c) afragment of (a) or (b), that encodes a polypeptide fragment havinglactonohydrolase activity.
 2. The nucleic acid sequence of claim 1,which encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% identity with aminoacids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 3. The nucleic acid sequence of claim2, which encodes a polypeptide having at least 97% identity with aminoacids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 4. The nucleic acid sequence of claim1, which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO.
 2. 5. The nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, which encodes apolypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 or afragment thereof that has lactonohydrolase activity.
 6. The nucleic acidsequence of claim 5, which encodes a polypeptide consisting of aminoacids 18 to 400 of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 7. The nucleic acid sequence of claim1, which has at least 95% homology with nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ IDNO.
 1. 8. The nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, which has at least 97%homology with nucleotides 90 to 1238 of SEQ ID NO.
 1. 9. The nucleicacid sequence of claim 1, which is contained in plasmid pFA0576, whichis contained in E. coli NRRL B-30074.
 10. A nucleic acid constructcomprising the nucleic acid sequence of claim 1 operably linked to oneor more control sequences which direct the production of the polypeptidein a suitable expression host.
 11. A recombinant expression vectorcomprising the nucleic acid construct of claim
 10. 12. A recombinanthost cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of claim
 10. 13. Amethod for producing a polypeptide having lactonohydrolase activitycomprising (a) cultivating the host cell of claim 12 under conditionssuitable for production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering thepolypeptide.